ABERDEEN, S.D. -- Farming is a part of us all -- whether we know it or not.
From the food we eat to the friends and family members producing it, farmers and ranchers are important linchpins of our society.
When wheels fall off on the farm, we all can be driven into the ditch.
This fall, we would like our friends in the field to be injury- and pain-free.
We know how busy farmers are right now. They are racing the clock to bring home the harvest.
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That also has meant our roads are busier with farm equipment. Everyone behind every wheel should be wary, and, like our road construction workers, give farmers a "brake."
When long hours, lack of focus and speed are parts of the equation, too often injury comes up as one of the unfortunate answers.
However, today's bigger and more powerful equipment add more fear to any farm accident. It is easy to understand how these accidents happen, but hard to accept the outcomes.
Farming is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. The national rate for farm accident deaths is 22.1 per 100,000 workers.
Farmers are not only dealing with the normal hazards that come with the fall harvest: sleeplessness, exhaustion and heightened sense of urgency. They also are dealing with wet fields.
Wet fields have resulted in farm equipment getting stuck in the mud, muck and mire. With it has brought more danger.
Physical harm is not only the only type of danger. Sometimes the stress of situations on the farm cause significant personal problems for all family members involved.
Stress or depression can be a double whammy. Those problems can increase the risk for farm accidents.
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At the end of the day, we want our farm friends to return home from the field safe and sound.
Our moms were right: Be safe, not sorry.
